BACK TO NATURE IN LITHUANIA

TOUR DESCRIPTION:

Discover the charm of lithuanian nature by visiting all National parks in the country. The land of lakes and hills, green forests and rivers, a unique seaside with long beaches of white sand - the beauty of Lithuanian nature is truly spectacular. Tours to the main Lithuanian cities, rich with culture and history, old etnographic villages that make people feel the atmosphere of Lithuania's past.

Arrival to Vilnius, the capital of Lithuania. Transfer to hotel for accommodation.

Day 2: VILNIUS

Morning Vilnius City Tour includes the major attractions of the Old Town: Vilnius Cathedral erected in Sventaragis Valley, the legendary site where the city was founded and pagan Gods were worshipped as far back as the 13 th century, Gediminas Castle rising on the hill above the city centre, a perfect panoramic view of the whole city, the elegant St. Anne's Church, Vilnius University campus, the Dawn Gates with holy icon of Virgin Mary.Afternoon tour to Vilnius University Botanical Gardens in Kairenai, the largest botanical garden in Lithuania boasting up to 9000 types and species of plants belonging to 886 genera.Return to Vilnius for overnight.

Day 3: VILNIUS - AUKŠTAITIJA NATIONAL PARK - VILNIUS

After breakfast departure from Vilnius to the Eastern part of Lithuania. The first stop to see how famous Lithuanian šakotis, known as a tree cake, is baked. A further drive to Aukstaitija or Highland National Park with a picturesque forested and hilly terrain abounding in hundreds of lakes. Visit the Ginuciai water mill, old ethnographic villages, a Museum of Bee-keeping, an old wooden church in Palushe built without using a single nail. On the way back to Vilnius a short stop to visit the Museum of Ethnocosmology and the Astronomic Observatory with its one of the largest public telescopes in Europe. The essence of the Museum is the relationship of a man and a mankind with the Cosmic World. Late afternoon return back to Vilnius. Dinner at hotel. Overnight.

Day 4: VILNIUS - TRAKAI - DZŪKIJA NATIONAL PARK - DRUSKININKAI

A pleasant morning drive to the historic city of Trakai, the ancient Lithuanian capital amidst five picturesque lakes. It is famous for its 15th century Gothic Castle on the island, now housing History Museum. A further drive south to Dzukija National Park. Since 2011 it is PAN park, one of the 13 in Europe and only one in Lithuania. Visit to Zervynos ethnographic village, an outstanding example of the wooden folk farm architecture of the region on the banks of the River Ula, the most beautiful of the park's streams. A pleasant walk in a pine forest along one of the picturesque trails. A stop at the headquarters of the Park, Marcinkonys village, to visit the Ethnographic Museum. A further drive to a small historic town Merkine for a short stop at the Castle Hill and perfect panoramic view of the confluence of the Nemunas and Merkys rivers.Overnight at a nearby Lithuania 's premier spa, Druskininkai.

Day 5: DRUSKININKAI - GRUTAS PARK - KAUNAS

A morning tour of Druskininkai, famous for its modern sanatoriums and mineral water springs. Tour includes the Memorial Museum of Chiurlionis, the great Lithuanian artist and composer, our philosopher in art. A visit to Grutas Park, created by a very creative local businessman. It is called unofficially - Stalin's world - a wooded site with numerous granite monuments to former Communist leaders Lenin, Stalin. Here you can feel a Lithuanian political pulse only 15 years ago. The late afternoon drive to Kaunas, Lithuania 's second largest city, for overnight.

Day 6: KAUNAS - KLAIPĖDA

Morning Kaunas city tour including the Kaunas Castle, a historic site at the confluence of the two largest Lithuania's rivers where the Neris coming from Vilnius is flowing into the Nemunas. A tour includes the Town Hall Square, the 15 th-18 th c. Cathedral and the rest of the historic Old Town, also the present centre with monuments to Lithuania's independence. A further drive west along a picturesque Nemunas riverside road towards Lithuania 's Baltic coast and accommodation in Klaipeda. Evening sightseeing tour of the Old Town icluding Theatre Square with a fountain built in remembrance of the University of Königsberg professor and poet Simon Dach, the sculpture „Annie of Tharau" of young barefooted girl whose love song the bells of the town hall of Munich still plays. Overnight in Klaipeda.

Day 7: KLAIPĖDA - THE CURONIAN SPIT - KLAIPĖDA

A full day tour to the Curonian Spit National Park, the longest Lithuanian town Neringa, located on a narrow strip of land between the waters of the Curonian Lagoon and the Baltic Sea. 2 major stops on the Spit after crossing the Lagoon by ferry from Klaipeda: the first in Juodkrante to visit the Hill of Witches and the second in Nida, the most exiting part of the Spit with its majestic sand dunes, the area inluded into UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit to Thomas Mann Memorial House. Thomas Mann, winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature, had a summerhouse in Nida as he was so enchanted by the beauty of an area.In the very very late afternoon return for overnight to Klaipeda.

Day 8: KLAIPĖDA - PALANGA - ŽEMAITIJA NATIONAL PARK - KLAIPĖDA

A morning tour to Palanga, the most popular Lithuanian sea resort. A visit to the Amber Museum in the neo-classical 19th century palace amidst a beautiful park designed by a French architect Andre. A further afternoon drive to Samogitia National Park to admire a picturesque area around Lake Plateliai, wooden farm buildings of the 19 th - early 20 th centuries, wayside crosses and shrines produced by local folk artists. The people who live here, called zemaiciai, are well known for their determination and pride, obstinate character, sharp tongue, a specific dialect which sometimes is difficult to understand. They like to say "better a long sausage than a long speech". Return for overnight in Klaipeda.

Day 9: KLAIPĖDA - THE HILL OF CROSSES - VILNIUS

After breakfast at hotel departure to Vilnius via the Hill of Crosses. There are more than 200 000 crosses on the hill erected as signs of piety and gratitude to God. Now it is a sacral place in Lithuania. When Pope John Paul II came to Lithuania in 1993 he visited the Hill of Crosses to pray and celebrate Mass. Transfer to the airport. Departure flight.